fergal keane, bbc news, harare.r de france, crossing the line in paris. he finished arm in arm on the champs—elysee with team mate and four—time winner, chris froome. the 32—year—old who rides for team sky took control of the race by winning two stages in the alps in the second week. he was greeted in paris by his wife, sara. already the tour de france victor has been inundated with congratulations, especially from wales. garaint thomas' former cycling club said he's inspired a new generation. sian lloyd joined them for their party in cardiff. the party was in full swing by the time geraint thomas finished the tour in paris. back home, friends and fans had gathered to celebrate their champion. some have known g, as they call him, since his journey into cycling began aged nine. it's amazing, but also unbelievable in a way that that little boy, the boy next door, sort of thing, has now won the biggest sporting event in the world. for the young members of his former club, this was a huge day. excited and proud of his c

fergal keane, bbc news, harare.al migrants landing on a spanish beach and escaping as a police boat was chasing them. this video shows the moment the migrants jumped out of their dinghy near cadiz, and fled past tourists into the surrounding sand dunes. they crossed the strait of gibraltar, which is a key route for migrants trying to get from morocco into mainland europe. geraint thomas has become britain's third winner of the tour de france, crossing the line in paris. he finished arm in arm on the champs—elysee with team—mate and four—time winner, chris froome. the 32—year—old, who rides for team sky, took control of the race by winning two stages in the alps in the second week. he was greeted in paris by his wife, sara. already, the tour de france victor has been inundated with congratulations, especially from wales. which is where he's from. geraint thomas‘s former cycling club said he's inspired a new generation. sian lloyd joined them for their party in cardiff. the party was in full swing by the time geraint

fergal keane, bbc news, harare. to have used an american based pr firm to discredit and undermine rival bids from the us and australia against fifa's rules. the claims are made in tomorrow's sunday times. it says e—mails show the firm recruited american pe teachers to lobby congressmen, saying money for the games could be better spent, and in australia students were recruited to protest against its bid at rugby matches. qatar was cleared of any wrongdoing following a fifa investigation, but it's not clear if the e—mails were available at the time. now with all the sport from paris where the tour france ends tomorrow, here's 0lly foster. many thanks indeed. after over 3000 kilometres and three weeks, geraint thomas will ride up the champs elysees tomorrow champagne in hand, the first welshman to become tour champion and the 6th british winner in seven years. his historic achievement was confirmed after a nervy time trial at the foot of the pyrenees. jo currie was following today's stage. a maiden tour de france title

our africa editor fergal keane ports from the capital, harare. fergal: just a year ago they sham, a democracy was a rigged exercise to keep a tyrant in power. today felt likeomething very different. african laughter and the high hopes of long-suffering people. >> i would like to be employed. lii woul clinics for medicine. i would like people to go to school. more schools, more clinics, more jobs for everyone. >> this day i'm very hopeful for a new zimbabwe and very happy to make a change . my decision is being considered for a better zimbabwe. i'm happy and hol. fergal: it was peaceful across zimbabwe. in the rural areas. and in midnds province, where the man who overthrew the old regime cast his vote. once an enforcer for robert mugabe, he is gambling voters ingl thank him for bri change. president mnangagwa: i'm happy cthat the process fampaigning was beautiful. what's happening today is peaceful. i'm onfident the entire electoral propess will remain aceful. fergal: in the capital, harare, stronghold of the oppotion movement for democratic chang

fergal keane, bbc news, harare. let's get some of the day's other news.ies across russia to protest against plans to raise the pension age. the proposal, going through parliament, would see a gradual increase from 55 to 63 for women, and 60 to 65 for men. almost 3 million people have signed a protest petition. the taliban has reportedly held its first direct talks with a us official, discussing future peace negotiations and an end to america's longest war. according to a senior taliban official, the group met alice wells, america's top diplomat for south asia, in an attempt to bring an end to the 17—year conflict. it comes as militants attacked a government—run training centre for midwives in eastern afghanistan. a suicide bomber targeted the compounds entrance in the city of jalala bad, close to the border with pakistan. gunmen are then said to have stormed the building. 0fficial say three civilians have been killed and eight others injured. local authorities in japan local authorities injapan have issued evacuation orders, as a powerful type and is due

fergal keane, bbc news, harare. resignation of a cardinal, the first such case in nearly 100 years. the catholic church found credible and substantiated claims that theodore mccarrick had sexually abused a teenager nearly 50 years ago. the 88—year—old former archbishop of washington is facing a vatican trial, and has already been barred from carrying out any ministry. john mcmanus reports. and to speak with civility and pray together... theodore mccarrick is one of the best—known clerics in the us catholic church, but as of now, he's no longer a cardinal. on friday evening he submitted his resignation to the pope, a consequence of an investigation by the archdiocese of new york into allegations that he sexually abused a teenage boy nearly 50 years ago. theodore mccarrick denies the allegations, but last month the archdiocese said they were credible and substantiated. it's thought that new york's statute of limitations means too much time has elapsed for a criminal prosecution, but the former archbishop of washington

fergal keane, bbc news, harare.er a proposed rise in the pension age for men and women. they come a day after demonstrations organised by the communist party and will be led by the liberal opposition. the government wants to raise the pension age from 60 to 65 for men. 55 to 63 is the proposed raise in pension age for women in russia. russian men have a life expectancy ofjust 66 according to the world health organisation. women fare a bit better with a life expentancy age of 77. opponents of the changes argue people won't live long enough to enjoy their pensions if the changes are passed. lebo diseko has more a rare sight in vladimir putin's russia, thousands on the streets of moscow challenging proposed pension reforms. this sign and the skeleton with it expressing theirfears. "worked all his life but did not get his pension." translation: sadly a significant number of both men and women will not make it to the age of planned retirement that our government is proposing, so this may unfortunately mean many of our ci

fergal keane, bbc news.a returned to power? i cannot vote for the party 01’ power? i cannot vote for the party orfor power? i cannot vote for the party or for those power? i cannot vote for the party orfor those in power power? i cannot vote for the party or for those in power that have brought me into this state. i cannot vote for them. so what is there? i think it isjust vote for them. so what is there? i think it is just chamisa. vote for them. so what is there? i think it isjust chamisa. the press conference has ended with an endorsement of sorts for nelson chamisa. will that help or hinder him ina chamisa. will that help or hinder him in a country that has such a long memory of brutality under the maghaberrys. this is what robert mugabe‘s thugs once did to nelson chamisa. it might explain his cautious response to the endorsement. mr mugabe's wishes are his wishes and they have to be respected. but i am going to accept any respected. but i am going to accept a ny voter respected. but i am going to accept

fergal keane, bbc news, harare. let's get some of the day's other news.o helped to defend the former nationalist serb president, slobodan milosevic, has been shot dead. dragoslav 0gnjanovic was killed in front of his apartment building in the serbian capital, belgrade. mr 0gnjanovic served on the legal team that helped to defend mr milosevic at his un war crimes trial at the hague. chile's president, sebasti n pinera, says the local roman catholic church could and should have prevented many cases of child sexual abuse committed by priests in the past decades. mr pinera said that as a catholic he was disappointed that such horrific crimes had been covered up. thousands of anti—government protestors in nicaragua have taken part in a march to show support for the roman catholic church, which has been mediating in talks between the opposition and president 0rtega's government. the government says catholic bishops have sided with the opposition. more than three hundred people have died in three months of protests against mr 0rtega. pope francis has accepted th

fergal keane, bbc news, harare.orders, as a powerful typhoon is due to make landfall. they've given warnings of heavy rain, landslides and strong winds. the storm is expected to hit the western chugoku region, where flooding killed more than 200 people earlier this month. more than a hundred flights have also been cancelled. pope francis has accepted the resignation of a us cardinal after the catholic church found that allegations the cardinal had sexually abused a teenager were "credible and substantiated". 88—year—old theodore mccarrick is facing a vatican trial, and has already been barred from carrying out any ministry. john mcmanus reports. and to speak with civility and pray together... theodore mccarrick was one of the best—known clerics in the us catholic church. as of now, he is no longer a cardinal. he submitted his resignation to the pope after allegations that he sexually abused a teenage boy nearly 50 years ago. he denies the allegations but last month the archdiocese said that they were credible and su

fergal keane, bbc news, harare.to host the football world cup in 2022, is alleged to have used an american based pr firm, to discredit and undermine rival bids from the us and australia against fifa's rules. the claims are made in the british sunday times newspaper. it says e—mails, show the firm recruited american pe teachers to lobby congressmen, saying money for the games could be better spent, and in australia students were recruited to protest against its bid at rugby matches. the qatar ‘22 organisers say they reject each and every allegation put forward by the sunday times. stay with us on bbc world news. still to come: celebrations as the first female skipper and her amateur crew win the round the world yacht race. the us space agency, nasa, has ordered an investigation after confirmation today that astronauts were cleared to fly while drunk. the last foot patrol in south armagh. once an everyday part of the soldier's lot — drudgery and danger — now no more after almost four decades. if one is on one's own in

fergal keane, bbc news, harare.ourts will no longer be needed, to withdraw life support from people in a permanent vegetative state, or those who are minimally conscious. the supreme court has ruled that if family members and doctors agree, then food and liquid can be stopped, allowing patients to die. many thousands of individuals with little or no hope of recovery could be affected. here's sophie hutchinson. cathy's brother mackie was severely brain damaged in a hit—and—run accident when he was just 16 years old. he then spent eight years in a vegetative state. she is of the family had to go through the painful process of asking the court to have food and water withdrawn so he could die. that is one of the difficult things about going to court, i had to swear an affidavit saying i wa nted to swear an affidavit saying i wanted my brother to die. i didn't wa nt wanted my brother to die. i didn't want that, i wanted him to get better and not be knocked over in the first place but i couldn't have any of those things a

our africa editor fergal keane in is the capital harare.was a day defined by two momentous absences, no robert mugabe on the ballot paper and no election day violence. the two are connected. hundreds of foreign and local observers were deployed to ensure there would not be violence under there would not be violence under the most part, that seems to have been the case. a remarkable turnout, the highest since independence, up 16% on the last election. and for those of us who covered past violence in this country, it seemed a different zimbabwe. just a year ago, they believed democracy was a sham. a rigged exercise designed to keep an ageing tyrant in power. but today felt like something very different. african laughter and the high hopes of long—suffering people. i would like everybody to be employed. i would like some clinics to have medicine. i would like people to go to school. more schools, more clinics, morejobs for everyone. this day, i am very hopeful for a new zimbabwe. i am very happy that i am able to make a change, my decision is

fergal keane, bbc news, zimbabwe.ember of its ruling body, after he was recorded calling some members of the jewish community trump fanatics. peter willsman — an ally ofjeremy corbyn — claimed that accusations of anti—semitism in the party have been invented. he's since apologised — and said not all his remarks were accurately reported — as our political correspondent vicki young reports. do you plan to withdraw as a candidate from the nec? this is peter willsman, the man at the centre of yet another anti—semitism row in the labour party. he is a long—standing ally ofjeremy corbyn and is up for re—election to the party's ruling body. but some are calling on him to stand down after a recording emerged of him denying that labour had a problem with anti—semitism. they can falsify social media very easily and some of these people thejewish community support trump. they are trump fanatics. and all the rest of it. so i am not going to be lectured to by trump fanatics making up information without any evidence at all. so i t

our africa editor, fergal keane, reports from the capital harare.ieved democracy was a sham. a rigged exercise. democracy was a sham. designed to keep an ageing tyrant in power. but today felt like something very different. african laughter and the high hopes of long—suffering people. i would like if everyone was employed today, i would like some clinics to have medicine. i would like people to go to school. more schools, more clinics, morejobs, for everyone. this day, i'm very hopeful for a new zimbabwe. i'm very happy that i'm able to make a change, my decision is being considered for zimbabwe. so i'm happy and hopeful. it was peaceful across zimbabwe. in the rural areas of matabeleland. and in midlands province, where the man who overthrew the old regime cast his vote. once an enforcer for robert mugabe, he's gambling voters will thank him for bringing change. i'm happy that the process of campaigning was peaceful and voting today is peaceful. i have no doubt that the end process of the entire electoral process will remain peaceful. in the capita

fergal keane, bbc news, harare. jane: it could take soueral days to the votes. we will bring you the results as we get them. with winning season in full , many couples are picking up photographers on the perfect cake. but what if you are a member of the lgbt community wneed to -- who needs an standm? that is where sarah cunningham has you covered. she tells us why the invites are pouring in. >> whatever you need. if you need a mom to come to your same-sex marriage becauseio yourgical mom won't, i am your girl. i just started hearing about parents who were not accepting the relationship between the couple, not recognizing their marriage as holy. it's the most profound day of their lives. i was that mom, too. i was wondering if i could go to my own son's wedding. i had to reconcile my own fears. about th >> doesn't seem like a monumental action, but it is so important. >'t is a highlight of one' life to be married to someone that they love and adore, and to no matterrate that - where you stand, if you are not sure about it or how to accept this, as you are trying

the bbc‘s africa editor fergal keane caught up with him just after he had voted. accept the result even if you lose? i have told you that we're not losing in this election. we are winning this election. i'm not interested in impossibilities. so you're confident? we will win this election to the extent that it is a free and fair election, particularly in the rural areas. it's a done deal. thank you, sir. our correspondent nomsa maseko is in the zimbabwean capital, harare. how is polling day going so far? well, it seems like it's going very smoothly. polling stations opened at 7am local time here, with tens of thousands of zimbabweans queueing up early this morning and have already cast their ballots. many of them —— many more of them are expected to do so until 7pm this evening when polling stations close, and then counting will begin immediately afterwards. what are the main issues that people have been weighing up in this campaign? they are expecting that whoever takes over and wins this election will fix this country's battered economy after it crumbled under th

fergal keane, bbc news, zimbabwe.secretary damian hinds says it's a "persistent scandal" and that chdren left behind early on, rarely catch up as adults. he's called on parents to read and learn new words with their children, and asked charities and businesses to come up with ideas to help. let's go live to steve marsland, headteacher of russell scott primary in denton in greater manchester. good evening. how widespread is the problem in your experience? very widespread and getting worse. schools in areas like our own which are high in terms of social deprivation, it is even worse u nfortu nately. deprivation, it is even worse unfortunately. council services are cut to the bone and schools are having to supplement their budgets in buying in speech therapy nowadays. so the problem has got worse over time, say in the last 20 yea rs ? worse over time, say in the last 20 years? today damian hinds is telling us years? today damian hinds is telling us about a new initiative but perhaps he ought to have gone back ten yea rs

our africa editor fergal keane reports from the capital harare.as a sham. a rigged exercise. designed to keep an ageing tyrant in power. but today felt like something very different. african laughter and the high hopes of long—suffering people. i would like if everyone was employed today, i would like some clinics to have medicine. i would like people to go to school. more schools, more clinics, morejobs, for everyone. this day, i'm very hopeful for a new zimbabwe. i'm very happy that i'm able to make a change, my decision is being considered for zimbabwe. so i'm happy and hopeful. it was peaceful across zimbabwe. in the rural areas of matabeleland. and in midlands province, where the man who overthrew the old regime cast his vote. once an enforcer for robert mugabe, he's gambling voters will thank him for bringing change. i'm happy that the process of campaigning was peaceful and voting today is peaceful. i have no doubt that the end process of the entire electoral process will remain peaceful. in the capital harare, stronghold of the opposition

our africa editor fergal keane reports from the zimbabwean capital, harare. mischief and seek ditty. he is 94 and for the first time in the history of zimbabwe independent robert mugabe's name is not on the ballot. he is bitter. what we have seen, i was sacked from the party i founded. the days they have been rumours that grace and robert mugabe would support nelson chamisa as an act of revenge towards emmerson mnangagwa. i cannot vote for a party 01’ mnangagwa. i cannot vote for a party or those in power that have brought me to this state. i cannot vote for them. so what is there? nelson chamisa. it ended with an endorsement of sorts for nelson chamisa but will it help or into him with the country and a memory of violence. it might explain robert mugabe's cautious response. —— nelson chamisa. mr mugabe's wishes have to be respected but as the me i am going to accept any voter with open hands and a open heart. down here, any alliance with robert mugabe is potentially toxic for the opposition. these are the most graves —— mass graves from robert mugabe times.

up against nelson chamisa of the opposition movement for democratic change. 0ur africa editor fergal keaneear ago they believed democracy was a sham, a rig exercise designed to keep an ageing tyrant in power. but today felt like something very different. african laughter and the high hopes of long—suffering people. i would like to be employed. and i would like some medicine. people. i would like to be employed. and i would like some medicinelj would and i would like some medicine.” would like people to go to school, more schools, more clinics, more jobs for everyone. this day i am very hopeful for a new zimbabwe. i am very happy that i am able to make am very happy that i am able to make a change. my decision is being considered for a better zimbabwe. i am happy and hopeful. it was peaceful across zimbabwe, in the rural areas of matebeleland, and in midlands province, where the man who overthrew the regime cast his vote. once an enforcer for robert mugabe, he is gambling that voters will want change. the process for campaigning was peaceful. voting today is peaceful. i will not doubt that

insist that there's been no cheating and say the results are still being counted. 0ur africa editor fergal keanewhich conflicting hopes would finally collide. a day that began with the first results being posted outside polling stations. in harare. in the second city of bulawayo. in rural areas. and a day of checking and listening. with this assurance to those who remembered rigged elections of the past. we are absolutely confident that there was no rigging and we would like to show the people that we will not subvert the will of the people. the opposition has alleged vote rigging but still claims victory. supporters acting as if they'd already won. it did feel premature. the results show beyond reasonable doubt that we have won this election. sources on both sides say they are confident. they both believe. the people have spoken, the president is unelectable. there is a battle here to shape local and international opinion ahead of an official announcement but the government also escalated its rhetoric, warning the 0pposition leader could face jail for declaring victory early. 0pposition leader

opposition movement for democratic change, in the battle for the presidency. 0ur africa editor fergal keaneas peaceful across zimbabwe, in matebeleland, and midlands province, where who overthrew the regime cast its vote. 0nce where who overthrew the regime cast its vote. once an enforcer for robert mugabe, he is hoping that voters will want change. i'm happy that both the process for campaigning was peaceful and voting today is peaceful. i have no doubt that the end process of the entire electoral process will remain peaceful. in the capital harare, stronghold of the opposition movement for democratic change, its young leader nelson chamisa arrived at a local school to vote. he's campaigned energetically for months. how is it going? is it going well? "very good," he said. nelson chamisa just after voting. it is chaotic, but it is democracy as zimbabwe has never known it before. a few moments later, i caught up with him again. will you accept the result, even if you lose? i have told you that we are not losing in this election, we are winning this election. so i am not interested in impossi

my colleague, fergal keane, spoke to him after he voted.r election, particularly in rural areas. this election is a test for the party that has ruled this country for nearly a0 years, for the military that changed everything in november last year, and for the young, brash leader of the opposition. whichever way this election goes, they will all need to accept the results. this country is at a crossroads. the next few days will be critical. zimbabwe and the world will be watching. we can hearfrom shingai nyoka live from harare now. a historic moment, clearly. and as you say, huge test for the country, too. absolutely. and millions of zimbabweans are still out voting on this momentous day. we have been out to some of the polling stations, and we've seen long, winding queues. and many of the people that we spoke to say they are excited to take part in this election. they feel that for the first time in many years, this boat will count. so all this vote will count. we have been out, prior to this election, in the rural areas. where in the past,

insist that there's been no cheating and say the results are still being counted. 0ur africa editor fergal keaneconflicting hopes would finally collide. a day that began with the first results being posted outside polling stations. in harare, in the second city bulawayo, in rural goromonzi. and a day of checking and listening. with this assurance to those who remembered rigged elections of the past. we are absolutely confident there was no rigging. we would like to assure the zimbabwean people that we, the zimbabwe electoral commission, will not steal their choice of leader. we will not subvert their will. the opposition doesn't accept that. but its supporters still celebrated as if victory was already in the bag. it did feel premature. the results show beyond reasonable doubt that we have won this election. sources on both sides say they are confident. who to believe? the people spoke. president mnangagwa is unelectable. the people spoke. there is a battle here to shape local and international opinion ahead of an official announcement. but the government also escalated its rhetoric, warning the

in this article by the bbc‘s africa editor fergal keane, fergal argues this is largely due to ethiopia'slking about a conflict that has lasted two decades and appears to be coming to an end in a matter of days. and this is not really the first we're hearing of a possible and to the ethiopia — eritrea conflict. there have been talks behind—the—scenes, we know the us special envoy was having talks with the ep at —— ethiopia and eritrea. ethiopia's ruling party last year also said they will change relations. but this has come as a bit of a shock, the speed and enthusiasm with which this new leader has taken up this responsibility to say that things must change now. so he is definitely... he has changed things around quickly. but what is his political calculation? because he will be thinking about how this plays back within ethiopian politics. how has he calculated that this is now a potentially popular move? he has really stood on a platform of reform. that's what he stands for, that's what people expect from him. in every way he is challenging the status quo, and that is what he has done s

my colleague, fergal keane, spoke to him after he voted.icularly in rural areas. this election is a test for the party that has ruled this country for nearly a0 years, for the military that changed everything in november last year, and for the young, brash leader of the opposition. whichever way this election goes, they will all need to accept the results. this country is at a crossroads. the next few days will be critical. zimbabwe and the world will be watching. shingai nyoka reporting there, let's now speak to our correspondent nomsa maseko who is in the zimbabwean capital harare. how different choice do voters feel they have this time? the fact robert mugabe's name is not on a ballot paper, zimbabweans, particularly the young, feel have a level of optimism, of bringing this country into a new, post—robert mugabe democracy, who earlier today also went out to cast his ballot amid loud, loud cheers, but he did not say anything when he went out there to vote. but there is a level of optimism because whoever wins will have a huge task of res

the bbc‘s fergal keane got some words with him as he went to vote in the capital harare.t going well? very good, he said. nelson just after voting. it is chaotic but it is democracy as zimbabwe has never known before. a few moments later, i caught up with him again. will you accept the vote even if you lose? i have told you that we are not losing this election. we are winning this election. i am not interested in impossibilities. so you are confident? we will win this election. that is a free and fair election, particularly in the rural area. it is a done deal. fergal has also written this article for bbc online, looking at whether this post—mugabe vote can heal divisions in the country. and on a related story, look at these pictures from today. they show robert mugabe's wife, grace, with her husband — and she's just had the bad news that a south african court has just annulled her diplomatic immunity. since she stands accused of assaulting a model in south africa last year, this means grace mugabe could be arrested if she ever goes back there. the bbc‘s shingai nyoka is

my colleague, fergal keane, spoke to him after he voted.y in rural areas. this election is a test for the party that has ruled this country for nearly 40 years, for the military that changed everything in november last year, and for the young, brash leader of the opposition. whichever way this election goes, they will all need to accept the results. this country is at a crossroads. the next few days will be critical. zimbabwe and the world will be watching. shingai nyoka, bbc news, harare. we can go to harare and speak to our correspondent sophie ikenye. sophie, any idea as to turn out at the moment? well, not exactly but what we know is there was a huge turnout, much more than there has been before in zimbabwe, because even as we went through the polling stations, we could see a lot more young people who, before, had actually avoided voting saying why vote when we know that the results will be the same? today generally was a peaceful day, a peaceful election. the head of the eu observer mission said he was pleased with the process so far a